1 Samuel 16:6

6 It happened, when they had come, that he looked at Eli'av, and said, Surely the LORD's anointed is before him.

1 Samuel 16:6 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 16:6

And it came to pass, when they were come
Jesse and his sons, into the house where the entertainment was; and perhaps before they sat down, went into a private apartment by the direction of Samuel, where he acquainted Jesse with the business he came upon:

that he looked on Eliab;
who was Jesse's firstborn, ( 1 Chronicles 2:13 ) , called Elihu, ( 1 Chronicles 27:18 )

and said, surely the Lord's anointed is before him;
or this is the person it is his pleasure should be anointed king.

1 Samuel 16:6 In-Context

4 Shemu'el did that which the LORD spoke, and came to Beit-Lechem. The Zakenim of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, Come you peaceably?

5 He said, Peaceably; I am come to sacrifice to the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. He sanctified Yishai and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.

6 It happened, when they had come, that he looked at Eli'av, and said, Surely the LORD's anointed is before him.

7 But the LORD said to Shemu'el, "Don't look on his face, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him: for [the LORD sees] not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

8 Then Yishai called Avinadav, and made him pass before Shemu'el. He said, Neither has the LORD chosen this.